Part 48

<blockquote>The marmot <b>absconds</b> all winter. <i>Ray.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>To depart clandestinely; to steal off and secrete one's self; -- used especially of persons who withdraw to avoid a legal process; <as>as, an <ex>absconding</ex> debtor</as>.</def>

<blockquote>That very homesickness which, in regular armies, drives so many recruits to <b>abscond</b>. <i>Macaulay.</i></blockquote>

<h1>Abscond</h1> <Xpage=7>

<hw>Ab*scond"</hw>, <tt>v. t.</tt> <def>To hide; to conceal.</def> <mark>[Obs.]</mark>

<i>Bentley.</i>

<h1>Abscondence</h1> <Xpage=7>

<hw>Ab*scond"ence</hw> <tt>(#)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <def>Fugitive concealment; secret retirement; hiding.</def> <mark>[R.]</mark>

<i>Phillips.</i>

<h1>Absconder</h1> <Xpage=7>

<hw>Ab*scond"er</hw> <tt>(#)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <def>One who absconds.</def>

<h1>Absence</h1> <Xpage=7>

<hw>Ab"sence</hw> <tt>(#)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[F., fr. L. <ets>absentia</ets>. See <er>Absent</er>.]</ety> <p><b>1.</b> <def>A state of being absent or withdrawn from a place or from companionship; -- opposed to <i>presence</i>.</def>

<blockquote>Not as in my presence only, but now much more in my <b>absence</b>. <i>Phil. ii. 12.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>Want; destitution; withdrawal.</def> "In the <i>absence</i> of conventional law."

<i>Kent.</i>

<p><b>3.</b> <def>Inattention to things present; abstraction (of mind); <as>as, <ex>absence</ex> of mind</as>.</def> "Reflecting on the little <i>absences</i> and distractions of mankind."

<i>Addison.</i>

<blockquote>To conquer that abstraction which is called <b>absence</b>. <i>Landor.</i></blockquote>

<h1>Absent</h1> <Xpage=7>

<hw>Ab"sent</hw> <tt>(#)</tt>, <tt>a.</tt> <ety>[F., fr. <ets>absens</ets>, <ets>absentis</ets>, p. pr. of <ets>abesse</ets> to be away from; <ets>ab + esse</ets> to be. Cf. <er>Sooth</er>.]</ety> <p><b>1.</b> <def>Being away from a place; withdrawn from a place; not present.</def> "Expecting <i>absent</i> friends."

<i>Shak.</i>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>Not existing; lacking; <as>as, the part was rudimental or <ex>absent</ex></as>.</def>

<p><b>3.</b> <def>Inattentive to what is passing; absent-minded; preoccupied; <as>as, an <ex>absent</ex> air</as>.</def>

<blockquote>What is commonly called an <b>absent</b> man is commonly either a very weak or a very affected man. <i>Chesterfield.</i></blockquote>

<syn>Syn. -- <er>Absent</er>, <er>Abstracted</er>.</syn> <usage> These words both imply a want of attention to surrounding objects. We speak of a man as <i>absent</i> when his thoughts wander unconsciously from present scenes or topics of discourse; we speak of him as <i>abstracted</i> when his mind (usually for a brief period) is drawn off from present things by some weighty matter for reflection. <i>Absence</i> of mind is usually the result of loose habits of thought; <i>abstraction</i> commonly arises either from engrossing interests and cares, or from unfortunate habits of association.</usage>

<h1>Absent</h1> <Xpage=7>

<hw>Ab*sent"</hw> <tt>(#)</tt>, <tt>v. t.</tt> <wordforms>[<tt>imp. & p. p.</tt> <er>Absented</er>; <tt>p. pr. & vb. n.</tt> <er>Absenting</er>.]</wordforms> <ety>[Cf. F. <ets>absenter</ets>.]</ety> <p><b>1.</b> <def>To take or withdraw (one's self) to such a distance as to prevent intercourse; -- used with the reflexive pronoun.</def>